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These days it seems impossible to escape the reality that a provincial election is upon us here in Quebec. The streets are lined with placards and local news updates are constantly informing us about the candidates' latest promises, announcements and follies.

Regardless of where your political loyalties rest, a provincial election is always good for at least one group of people: those seeking temporary employment.

The Directeur Général des Élections du Québec (DGEQ) is the organization that co-ordinates the elections and referendums in the province. The DGEQ is tasked with the mandate of ensuring that each elector is able to exercise their voting rights, while monitoring adherence to the rules presiding over political finance.

Each time a provincial election is called, the DGEQ hires roughly 90,000 people to fill a wide array of jobs in roughly 23 different categories related to the election.

"These temporary employees are crucial," said Denis Dion, DGEQ spokesperson. "Voters are able to cast their ballots because of these workers, we couldn't hold elections without them; they aren't here for a long time but their role is vital in making the election process work."

Christian Gohel, a returning officer in the Westmount-Saint-Louis Riding, has been working with the DGEQ during elections since 1989.

"The task itself is very interesting but the time table is very short and there's always a lot to take care of," Gohel said. "Within our riding we deal with the logistics of the election, so setting up the voting centres, hiring workers, making sure that our electoral list is updated, providing information to the public and receiving and checking applications for candidates."

Complicating matters are the increasingly complex ways in which people are able to vote, he added.

"For example there is a special process for people who live in residences," Gohel said. "The list of methods seems to grow every year so we always have to stay updated."

During the 2008 election the Westmount-Saint-Louis riding hired 800 people. That number is expected to be closer to 500 this year because of strategic changes in how the sta-tions are organized.

"The process is going very smoothly so far this time around," Gohel said. "Everyone has the tools they need to operate and the experience to date has been great."

In addition to the jobs created during an election, the DGEQ has a permanent staff of roughly 230 people. Between elections, these employees are busy with other tangential responsibilities.

"Two years after the government has been elected we start preparing for the next election," Dion said. "We begin to recruit personnel and we find locals in every riding where the returning officers will establish their offices."

There is also a warehouse which holds 250 tons of material that has to be prepared to be shipped to the 125 ridings, he added.

"We don't know the election dates, they aren't fixed as they are in some other provinces," Dion continued. "All of our materials have to be as ready as possible so that the moment an election is called we can start organizing."

Logistics aside, the DGEQ is also responsible for authorizing political parties and candidates to receive donations, take out loans and review election-related expenses. Its experts regularly conduct a review and audit of political parties' and candidates' annual financial statements and expenses.

"It takes about a year after each election to verify that the financial reports and spending were all in line with the law," Dion said. "So once the election is over, the work is nowhere near finished for us."

In addition to functioning at the provincial level, the DGEQ is also involved with local voting processes by providing the tools, training and support required for municipal and school elections.

"For example, there are 1,100 municipalities in Quebec holding general elections next November," Dion said. "So, as most of us are preparing for the September 4 provincial election, some of my colleagues are working at the municipal level instead."

Aside from its mandates in Quebec, the DGEQ also operates on the international level in a supportive capacity. Since 1984 their experts have worked with numerous international organizations and countries worldwide to provide expertise and training to those seeking to uphold the democratic electoral process.

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